Maddy Christian leads Penn State in sweep over Syracuse

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State came into their second straight game against the Syracuse Orange, having won the previous game in overtime. Maddy Christian made sure there would be no free hockey this time around. The junior left winger from Elk River, Minnesota had two goals and an assist en route to a 5-2 win for the Nittany Lions.

The win was the third straight for Penn State, and there were many factors as to why. The key that head coach Jeff Kampersal said was the biggest element was winning the third period. He stated, “Third period yesterday, third period today, they were just, like, relentless.” He wasn’t wrong.

Of the five goals Penn State scored in this game, four came after the second intermission.

Kampersal noted another important aspect of the game was taking advantage of playing at Pegula Ice Arena which gave the team an edge. “It helps being the home team, for sure,” he said at his postgame press conference.

Another key tenant was effort. “We worked hard all game,” Kampersal said. “When (the) Abby Stonehouse goal went in, that was deflating for them. We took it over at that point.”

Arguably the biggest element for Penn State was their power play. Coming into this game, the Nittany Lions only scored six goals on 42 attempts while up a skater. Christian decided to rectify that, netting two all by herself.

“Maddy Christian has completely stepped up and arrived,” Kampersal said. He also said, “she’s worked really hard this summer, and her hard work is paying off.” Christian now leads the team in goals with seven and powerplay goals with three.

“A lot of times last year, she had opportunities that she fired over the net. Much like overall, working smarter. She’s also a hard worker, but she’s working smarter.”

Christian also had an assist on the game-winning goal scored by Leah Stecker. It was Stecker’s first goal of the year.

When asked how it felt for Stecker to get that elusive goal, Coach Kampersal said it felt “good. That was nice to see her get that goal and get rewarded for playing well.”

Speaking on the power play as a unit, Kampersal said it was “very huge” in regards to netting three goals across the two-game set. “To get the first goal of the game is always important on the power play.

Towards the end there it was nice to get that fifth goal on the power play. We're just trying to simplify it really, and almost have a simple two-three, and low to high, fire it from the point, and see what happens rather than legging it till the last 15 seconds (like) in basketball where they hold the ball forever.”

Penn State will now have two weeks off for some much-earned rest. Coach Kampersal pointed out how the team “played through six straight Saturdays.”

The next time the Nittany Lions take the ice will be Sept. 15 and 16 for a two-game series at home against the Lindenwood Lions.

Nathan Johns is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jzn5275@psu.edu.